Job title: Family Help Worker

Salary: C1 £28,598 - £31,022

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Various locations across the City (Compton Centre Community Hub, Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Horsforth Community Hub)

As a Family Help Worker you’ll thrive on supporting families, early in the life of the problem. You will lead on early help plans and utilise the Leeds Practice Model in your day-to-day practice. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team which will include the police, domestic abuse, mental health and SEND coordinators, you will take a holistic approach to supporting families and you will be at the forefront of innovative, early help practice in Leeds!

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Family Help Worker, you will bring to the role:

The ability to contribute to and lead formulations and early help plans, within a multiagency context where families are identified as in need of early help. Working with the whole family, to deliver individualised packages of support within family homes or communities, to enable positive outcomes and avoid the need for statutory intervention.
The ability to utilise the Leeds Practice Model to enable effective formulation, intervention, planning and ongoing evaluation of a family’s needs to achieve positive goal-based outcomes.
The ability to engage with families in a positive, respectful and responsive manner using a restorative and relational approach
An understanding of child/young person’s developmental needs and an ability to develop interventions and plans accordingly accessing other specialist advice and intervention as required.

About the role

As our next Family Help Worker you will be integral to the developments of our new Family Hubs. This is an exciting time for Early Help in Leeds as we begin to deliver our multi-disciplinary approach to supporting families, early in the life of the problem. Building on what we know works, you will work closely with a team of people from different agencies to ensure families get the right help, from the right people at the right time.

You will support the delivery of evidence-based parenting programmes and develop a partnership approach across the locality in which you will be based. You will be skilled in developing relationships with families and professionals and will take a restorative approach to engaging families and key stakeholders.

The role is integral to our Early Help Service and you will be key to the Family Hub model of delivery. This is an exciting time to join Early Help Services in Leeds and be a part of the new Family Hub delivery Model!

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Lauren Dunstan, Family Hub Manager via email lauren.dunstan@leeds.gov.ukor Anna Bedford, Service Delivery Manager anna.bedford@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Working as part of the Early Help team to provide a high quality and comprehensive Family Help service within one of the Family Hubs in accordance with the organisational needs, policy, and practices of the Directorate and within statutory guidelines.

Working with families on an individual basis and in group settings apply a Think Family Work Family approach where there are children aged 0-18 accessing universal services &/or in need of family help (and up to 25 where there are special educational needs or disabilities or where there is a specific duty of care)

Responsibilities:

Contribute to and lead formulations and early help plans, within a multiagency context where families are identified as in need of early help. Working with the whole family, to deliver individualised packages of support within family homes or communities, to enable positive outcomes and avoid the need for statutory intervention.
Utilise the Leeds Practice Model to enable effective formulation, intervention, planning and ongoing evaluation of a family’s needs to achieve positive goal-based outcomes.
Work in accordance with relevant city strategies including the Early Help Strategy, Children and Young People’s Plan, Children and Young people’s Social Care strategic plans, the Supporting Families Framework, the Best Start Strategy and the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
Contribute to and manage an appropriate caseload, co-ordinate the planning, development, implementation, and review of individual support plans and manage, prioritise, and respond to families with urgent needs.
Engage with families in a positive, respectful and responsive manner using a restorative and relational approach.
Have an understanding of child/young person’s developmental needs and develop interventions and plans accordingly accessing other specialist advice and intervention as required.
Attend Child Protection Conferences, Core Group Meetings, court proceedings or other relevant meetings as required and contribute to the assessment and care planning for children/young people and families with support and guidance.
Contribute to and lead on early help registration, assessment, plan, and review within meaningful time scales.
Be appropriately responsible for the safety and welfare of the children/young people in your care, working as part of a team in providing a safe environment for the children/young people and families in all settings.
Maintain accurate, meaningful, and up to date records and ensure necessary information is shared appropriately, accurately, and concisely in line with current guidance, accessing and fully utilising appropriate electronic recording systems.
Flexible and adaptable to change to support and assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Responsibility for opening and securing buildings, where appropriate and necessary.
Actively engage in own professional development through the early help workforce development plan and participation in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Work within a multi-agency context, working with health, education, social care, youth services, police and communities ensuring all relevant agencies are involved in assessment and plans.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies, procedures and practice in relation to e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications NVQ qualification at level 3 or above approved by the relevant sector skills body in one or more of the following areas: Early Years childcare & /or education, Health, Social Care, Youth Work, or Adult Learning support.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas and travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries, moving location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
Able to work flexible hours
Able to respect sensitive and confidential information.
Able to use IT systems including Microsoft packages, e.g. word, excel and databases.
Able to use management information systems e.g. Mosaic, SCMS, Core Plus.
Able to plan/prepare and implement a range of family support interventions.
Able to work independently, using your own initiative and managing your own time effectively.
Able to communicate effectively with children and young people, parents and carers and work in partnership with parents, at all times respecting their views, valuing their experience and building on their strengths.

Knowledge Required

Understanding of challenges faced by disadvantaged families
Understanding of effective assessment and formulation processes
Understanding of child protection issues and safeguarding.
Understanding of problematic behaviour and strategies of intervention.
Awareness of cultural diversity and the challenges associated with different geographical areas of the city.
Knowledge about the developmental needs of children and young people appropriate to the service area.
Understanding of responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety, security, confidentiality and data protection
Understanding of the importance of multi -agency and multidisciplinary relationships and partnership working

Experience Required

Of paid or unpaid work with children, young people and families in a community setting which may include needs around learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.

Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct, restorative and relational practice.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Ability to drive

Knowledge Required

Of current policies in relation to children (as above)

Experience Required

Of working with children, young people and families which may include needs around learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties.